OUR TOWNS: CENTRAL

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COSTA MESA

Water meetings: Mesa Water District has changed its board meeting schedule to the second Thursday of each month, beginning March 14. Meetings will begin at 6 p.m., which is earlier than before. Agendas are available at
mesawater.org. More information: 949-631-1200.

Mike Reicher

714-796-2254
mreicher@ocregister.com

FOUNTAIN VALLEY

Businesses Awarded: Mimi's Jewelry, Rainbow Environmental Services and Excelsius Academy were the winners of the Chamber of Commerce's Business Awards Luncheon, which was held Tuesday at the Los Caballeros Sports Club. More than 80 people attended the ceremony. Mimi's, a 16-year-old company located on the corner of Brookhurst Street and Ellis Avenue, won the Community Spirit Award. Rainbow Environmental Services, which handles trash collection for Fountain Valley, won the Environmentally Conscious Award. Excelsius, a private school founded in 2005, won the Entrepreneur Award.

Chris Haire

714-796-2243 chaire@ocregister.com

HUNTINGTON BEACH:

Preschool enrollment: Open enrollment for the Huntington Beach City School District Preschool Academy opens at 9 a.m. today at the district office, 6701 Garfield Ave. Children must be at least 3 years old and potty-trained to enroll in the program. There are five-, three- and two-day program options. The preschool runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit
hbcsd.k12.ca.us or call 714-864-8888, ext. 2033.

Jaimee Lynn Fletcher

714-796-7953 jfletcher@ocregister.com

IRVINE

Stamp out hunger: Would you be able to live on $4 worth of food per day? To better understand the difficulties of living on food stamps, the Islamic Center of Irvine is hosting a hunger challenge Monday through March 15 and a town hall afterward to discuss the experience and ways to help the hungry. Information:
facebook.com /stamphunger.

Lauren Jow

714-796-7944 ljow@ocregister.com

LOS ALAMITOS

Tax assistance: Seniors and low-income families can get free tax assistance through the city's senior programs. Appointments are required and will be held on Wednesday mornings this month. Call 562-430-1073 for an appointment and directions.

Jaimee Lynn Fletcher

714-796-7953 jfletcher@ocregister.com

NEWPORT BEACH

Sunday Musicale: The Newport Beach Public Library will feature Natur Early Music Ensemble during its Sunday Musicale event at 3 p.m. March 10. The ensemble specializes in music written prior to the 1800s. Admission is free. The library is at 1000 Avocado Ave. Information: 949-717-3870.

Deepa Bharath

714-796-7909 dbharath@ocregister.com

ORANGE

Special honor: The El Modena High School library renamed for Lorenzo A. Ramirez, a plaintiff in Mendez et al v. Westminster et al, will celebrate its one-year anniversary Saturday. Orange Unified named the school's library last year after Ramirez, a former longtime resident of Orange's El Modena neighborhood, for his efforts to end segregation in California schools. The library contains displays chronicling the 1947 case that included Ramirez, who died in 1965, and his children.

Fermin Leal

714-704-3773 fleal@ocregister.com

SANTA ANA

Fire museum: The City Council recently approved donating the city's historic 1921 Seagrave fire truck and $5,000 to the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society. The society is in the final stages of a merger agreement with the Santa Ana Fire Museum to continue operating the museum at what is now Orange County Fire Authority Station 75, said Tim Rush, who chairs the society's committee on the transition. The museum will exhibit the truck, which is also used in civic events. The society is also seeking an agreement to maintain plaques at Stations 74 and 75 that memorialize members of the Santa Ana Fire Department. The authority took over city fire services last year.

Ron Gonzales

714-796-6999 rgonzales@ocregister.com

SEAL BEACH

First Friday: Various merchants on Main Street host a special event from 3 p.m. to close on the first Friday of every month, offering special deals and features. Information: 562-296-8022 and 562-498-4085.

Roxana Kopetman

714-796-7829 rkopetman@ocregister.com

TUSTIN

Art showing: Foothill High School is holding its first annual Fine Arts Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. The evening will showcase student and faculty visual and performing arts. The culinary arts students will provide food and refreshments, while the Madrigal Singers, Advanced Women's Ensemble, Advanced Theater Arts and the Foothill Jazz Band will entertain gallery-goers.

Jordan England-Nelson

jenelson@ocregister.com

VILLA PARK

Grad night: Villa Park High School's grad night will be celebrated this year at Knott's Berry Farm on June 13 after graduation. Tickets are available for students for $90 at the high school's Activities Office. Students can also purchase commemorative bench bricks to help offset the cost of grad night. Information: 714-282-1945.

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